My Mother's Rival / Everyday Life Library No. 4

end a week with my mother. I knew from different little things that had been said she had som

ticular day she forgot me. When Lady Conyngham began to talk I was behind my mother's chair with a book of fai

know, Isabel, to struggl

k in that fashion, you who have never had

t a real trouble, thank Heaven," and s

hen you advise me to be patient; but, Beatrice,

am advising you to do; I

u with indifference, harder to bear than hate, if he persisted in

should do in that case?" asked my dear mother. "O

will not die;" but my mother had laid her fair head back on the velvet pillow, and her eyes

l," she said, gently, "and I love

to deserve what I have suffered. I loved him with a pure, great affection-what became of it? Three days after

lingly; "you know that gentlemen do not attach so

ve been married ten years, and even at this date

d men. Sir Roland is graver in character than Lord Conyngham.

or another. I often thought of my mother's words, "I should die," long after Lady Conyngham had made some kind of reconciliation with

" They were to me the most mysterious people in the world-a race quite apart from other men. When they spoke of any one as being Mrs. or Lady S--'s husband, to me he became a wicked man at once. Some were

how intently she l

ich were good husbands and which were bad. I did not like to address any questions

were walking up and down the pictur

bands bad? Why do they

at me. There were laughter, fun

ied. "I am very surprised: it is such a strange quest

o answer; "Lady Conyngham's

not repeat it; you are much too yo

n-equally of course I did not think l

devoted to her. The other ladies said he spoiled her, he was so attentive, so devoted, so kind. I have

ayne." "With a husband like yours, life is all s

until I became quite sure that my fat

y memory. I thought far more of my beautiful mother than myself. I stood in the hall, watching her as she came down the great staircase, great waves of shining silk and trailing laces making

first!" I cried

and diamonds, L

she said laughingly. "One kiss

and stood looking at h

d more beautiful? It is dead swindle! I shall be a gray-bea

enjoyed his praise; she touched

lovingly, "my heart will never c

intensely I apprecia

e critic I was; "this is not like Lady Conyngham's husband!"-the truth

m. Mamma danced with me, too, and my happiness was complete. I watched all the ladies there, young and old; there was not one so fair as my mother. Closing my eyes, so tired of this world's sunlight, I see her ag

l conservatory, where we sat and talked until I had grown cool again. I see her talking with queenly grace and laughing eyes, no one forgotten or neglected, partners found for the

with you! As I saw her t

rning when my father and

oked, Beatrice,"

far better now than I did before I was married. I should like dancing parties

thing but her health. She was gay and charming herself, laughing at the fuss, anxiety and care. Sir Roland was devoted to her; he never left her. She took no more rides now on her fav

I who worshiped her, who would have kept silence for a year rather than have disturbed her for one moment! I appealed to Sir Roland, and he consulted her; the